Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Swissvale Flatiron

In Swissvale, lies this semi-abbandoned flatiron building.

Who was Patricia Stephanie ?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Pillow Fight on Flagstaff Hill

Organized by the Pittsburgh Cacophony Society, the pillow fight on Flagstaff Hill at Schenley Park is an annual happening, in occasion of the last outdoor Wednesday night movie screening by City Parks.







Thursday, August 21, 2008

Bloomfield Bridge Graffiti

Bocce court, basketball court, swimming pool, baseball diamond, paved hockey court.











Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Danny & Lenny, Strip District

Strip District, Pittsburgh. Wholesale distribution.


Friday, August 15, 2008

Emory Biko

Biko is an artist, educator, and flea-marketeer that deals with cultural artifacts of the African-American experience.

On saturdays, you can find in the Strip District with a display table.



Thursday, August 14, 2008

Etna Launderette






Wednesday, August 13, 2008

the Indian of Sharpsburg

Sharpsburg was a thriving community in the industrial age, and now it is mostly a blue-collar township, rich with architectural features from its by-gone era. The most famous resident is probably Guyasuta, an indian chief that resided in this area in the 1700's. The building focal point directly points to the statue of Guyasuta. Currently, the building is used for small businesses.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

berries in Boyce Park

Boyce Park county park, on the eastern edge of Allegheny County, has several blackberry and raspberry bushes. Some bushes are under a powerline criss-crossing the park from South to North, and other bushes are behind a hill easily reachable by trail (circled in red). Wear long pants, of sturdy denim, to protect legs from thorns.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Art Deco in Blawnox Post Office

In the late 30's and early 40's, several artists were commissioned to do artworks (murals, reliefs, sculptures) for post offices. A notable wood relief (now missing), titled "The Steel Worker and His Family", by Mildred Jerome, was at the Blawnox post office.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Vince the Barber at McKees Rocks

Vincenzo Panucci has been cutting hair for 60 years. In 1944, at age of 18, was in the army and went to Okinawa. Two years later, he was back civilian. Inside his shops are a veritable photo gallery of Who's Who among italian-americans of Pittsburgh.

630 Broadway
McKees Rocks, PA 15136



Friday, August 8, 2008

St Raphael Parish Festival - Morningside, Pittsburgh, PA

Located in the front parking lot of the St Raphael Catholic school and church in the neighborhood of Morningside, Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania, the parish festival usually starts on the second Thursday in the month of August and ends on Sunday. Highlights include a parade on the first day, a flea market, food vendors, booth games for children and adults, a poker tournament, lottery raffle, music entertainment by vocal and music bands. Parking is on public street. Entrance is free. Festival hours are from 6 PM to 11 PM.


Thursday, August 7, 2008

Farmer Stand of italian couple in North Versailles

Antonio and Giuseppina came from the Southern Italy area of Caserta, near Naples. They own and operate a small farm near Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, and of which produce they sell at a farm stand in Rossi's Popup Market in North Versailles, off route 30, on an abandoned CinemaPlex that has been converted into a flea market. Typical produce that they sell are swiss chard, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, beets, green beans, corn, peaches, plums, chestnuts, basil potted plants, collard greens, eggplant.

location: N 40° 23.376 W 079° 49.284
waymarking site


Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Guyasuta

In the township of Sharpsburg lies a metal statue of Guyasuta. The plaque reads:

Guyasuta (1720-1794), "Crosses Standing in a Row", a leader of the Seneca Tribe whose hunting ground included the Sharpsburg area, served as George Washington's guide during a 1753 survey of the point. he later represented his people in negotiations with the British settlers. During his later years, he settled in the area now known as Guyasuta Reservation and probably buried in the area now occupied by the north end of the Highland Park Bridge.

This statue is the third to occupy this site. The first was part of a large fountain manufactured by the J.L. Mott Company and given by H.J. Heinz circa 1896. That fountain was hit by a car in 1930 and replaced by a second statue from the original mould which was knocked from its concrete base in 1983 by a truck. This bronze replica of the 1930 statue was produced by Karkadoulias Bronze Art Company and installed in 1986. While the sculpture is not modeled in the likeness of Guyasuta, his name has long been associated with it.

Henry John Heinz (1844-1919) came to Sharpsburg in 1849. For nearly 40 years, he grew vegetables in the fertile soil of the surrounding Allegheny River flood plain. During that time, he resided in Sharpsburg, taught Sundah School in the Grace Methodist Church (15th Street) and became a highly respected member of the community. In the late 1800's, he relocated his rapidly growing company to its current location on Pittsburgh's North Side, leaving behind numerous gifts to the community, including a playground and a ballfield and the elaborate metal drinking fountain topped by a life-size sculpture of an Indian which stood at this intersection until 1930.